Make a checklist
Make a checklist with all the things you have to do before you go abroad to make sure that you get everything done in time
Make an exchange blog
An exchange blog is a perfect way to write to everyone at home at once to let them know what you are doing. Besides, an exchange blog also ends up being a great online diary that you always will be able to acces.
For inspiration, feel free to check out the blog I created when I went on exchange: www.christinewibe.blogspot.com
Buy a briefcase and put all of your important documents in it
Scan important documents
Scan all of your important documents and E-mail the documents to yourself to get access to them from any device. You should also do this with your passport.
Make a bucket listResearch your host country and local area and make a list of alle the things you would like to experience during your yeah and show it to your host family and friends.
Buy packing cubes
Pay a visit to IKEA and buy these inexpensive packing cubes ($9.99) for an incredibly organized packing and travelling experience.
You can also buy packing cubes on Aliexpress.com
Change the language on your device to your host country's language
This is a good way to adapt and exercise your new language.
Clean up your social media profiles
Delete any inappropriate pictures, posts and status updates (see a detailed explanation by clicking here)
Make conversion cards
If your host country uses other units than your home country, like Celsius vs. Fahrenheit, you can make small cards to take with you that helps you convert the units in you head instead of using a converter.
Make a collection of recipes
Make your own personal collection of your favourite recipes from your home country that you want to cook for your host family - they will love it.
Align expectations with your parents (and friends)
This is a very important one. Sit down with your parents and make an agreement on how much contact you think you should have with each other during your exchange year (especially in the beginning). To adapt to your new country and avoid homesickness you might consider not having any contact with your parents for the first week, 2 weeks, or the first month.
It is important that you and your parents talk this through so you are on the same page in terms of how much contact you are counting on having.
Get used to replacing swear words
Although it might be common to swear on a regular basis in your home country, people in your host country might find it offending. Therefore you should get used to replace any swear words in you vocabulary with more innocent words.
Here are some ideas for replacements of English swear words (and yes, religious words might also be considered swear words in your host country):
Make a checklist with all the things you have to do before you go abroad to make sure that you get everything done in time
Make an exchange blog
An exchange blog is a perfect way to write to everyone at home at once to let them know what you are doing. Besides, an exchange blog also ends up being a great online diary that you always will be able to acces.
For inspiration, feel free to check out the blog I created when I went on exchange: www.christinewibe.blogspot.com
Buy a briefcase and put all of your important documents in it
Scan important documents
Scan all of your important documents and E-mail the documents to yourself to get access to them from any device. You should also do this with your passport.
Make a bucket listResearch your host country and local area and make a list of alle the things you would like to experience during your yeah and show it to your host family and friends.
Buy packing cubes
Pay a visit to IKEA and buy these inexpensive packing cubes ($9.99) for an incredibly organized packing and travelling experience.
You can also buy packing cubes on Aliexpress.com
Change the language on your device to your host country's language
This is a good way to adapt and exercise your new language.
Clean up your social media profiles
Delete any inappropriate pictures, posts and status updates (see a detailed explanation by clicking here)
Write a letter to yourself
It might sound a bit silly but writing a letter to yourself before going on exchange and then opening it at the end of the year and read it is a lot of fun.
Write ''Open when...''-letters to family or friends.
Write ''Open when...''-letters such as ''Open when it's your birthday'' or ''Open when you miss me'' for your best friends or family members that they can decide when to open and read while you are away.
Write ''Open when...''-letters to family or friends.
Write ''Open when...''-letters such as ''Open when it's your birthday'' or ''Open when you miss me'' for your best friends or family members that they can decide when to open and read while you are away.
Make conversion cards
If your host country uses other units than your home country, like Celsius vs. Fahrenheit, you can make small cards to take with you that helps you convert the units in you head instead of using a converter.
Make a collection of recipes
Make your own personal collection of your favourite recipes from your home country that you want to cook for your host family - they will love it.
Align expectations with your parents (and friends)
This is a very important one. Sit down with your parents and make an agreement on how much contact you think you should have with each other during your exchange year (especially in the beginning). To adapt to your new country and avoid homesickness you might consider not having any contact with your parents for the first week, 2 weeks, or the first month.
It is important that you and your parents talk this through so you are on the same page in terms of how much contact you are counting on having.
Get used to replacing swear words
Although it might be common to swear on a regular basis in your home country, people in your host country might find it offending. Therefore you should get used to replace any swear words in you vocabulary with more innocent words.
Here are some ideas for replacements of English swear words (and yes, religious words might also be considered swear words in your host country):
- Jeez (Jesus)
- Gosh (God)
- Dang it, darn it (damn it)
- Oh my gosh, oh my goodness, oh my word (Oh my God)
- What the heck? (what the hell/f***?)
- Shoot (shit)
- Freaking (f***ing)
- BS (bullshit)
- Screwed up (f***ed up)
BE AWARE that some of these replacements might still not be acceptable to use in your host country or family. It is always a good idea to ask your host parents what words would be acceptable to use in their home and in your new country to make sure that you are not insulting anyone unintentionally.
_______________________________________________________________
For Rotary Youth Exchange Students:
Make a PowerPoint presentation about yourself and your country
Your hosting Rotary club is very likely to ask you to do a presentation when you arrive, so you might as well get started!
Make Rotary exchange pins
Click here for inspiration
_______________________________________________________________
For Rotary Youth Exchange Students:
Make a PowerPoint presentation about yourself and your country
Your hosting Rotary club is very likely to ask you to do a presentation when you arrive, so you might as well get started!
Make Rotary exchange pins
Click here for inspiration
Lots of good ideas! I like the 'open when' letters :)
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